£6m refit for troubled school

A SCHOOL plagued by thieves and vandals is hoping its troubled past is behind it after a £6m rebuild. The new Haverley Hey Primary, in Wythenshawe, Manchester, reopens in September, but children have been given a sneak preview of their new home.

A SCHOOL plagued by thieves and vandals is hoping its troubled past is behind it after a £6m rebuild.

The new Haverley Hey Primary, in Wythenshawe, Manchester, reopens in September, but children have been given a sneak preview of their new home.

The old school suffered a devastating spate of burglaries. In one term alone there were 30 break-ins with computers and even Poppy Appeal cash being stolen.

Fortress-style metal gates were erected and £900-a-week security guards were put on round-the-clock patrol. Now, headteacher Lesley Maddock hopes the new building will allow the community to draw a line under the school's troubles.

She said: "The children, staff and governors and community of the area have the school building they so richly deserve.

"I can speak on behalf of all these people when I say how marvellous it is to see our long awaited dream become a reality. The school was designed carefully and thoughtfully and the construction carried out with precision and efficiency."

Project manager Bob Hanlon, from Salford-based Bramall Construction, said: "From the early stages of the project it was obvious to us how the staff and governors desperately wanted their vision of what has been presented to them to become a reality for the pupils and community.

"We are very proud to have been involved in this project and we look forward to the future successes of the school."

Work will now begin on demolishing the old school building to make way for an outdoor theatre and a new football pitch and netball courts.

The primary school was one of three city schools due to be funded by a controversial PFI scheme, which would have been built by a private contractor and then leased back over 25 years.

But the private involvement was dropped following consultation and the school was built using public funding.